Comments on Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCanceTypePad2010-10-27T22:26:15ZAndy Towlehttp://www.towleroad.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:http://www.towleroad.com/2010/10/arkansas-midland-school-district-distances-itself-from-homophobic-school-board-member-clint-mccance/comments/atom.xml/Johanne commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488b16660970c2010-11-04T01:10:34Z2010-11-04T01:13:15ZJohanneThe Midland school district already took down the statement they released on their website regarding this. Sadly, the families and...<p>The Midland school district already took down the statement they released on their website regarding this. Sadly, the families and friends of those who were bullied until they died are not going to heal this quickly.</p>CelticDragon commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0134888e5d2e970c2010-10-29T13:24:31Z2010-10-29T13:24:55ZCelticDragonThis guy is a F***ing a**hole and should be removed from his position after SINCERELY apologizing to the whole school!!<p>This guy is a F***ing a**hole and should be removed from his position after SINCERELY apologizing to the whole school!!</p>JLV commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0134888d8eb7970c2010-10-29T10:26:50Z2010-10-29T10:27:35ZJLVI used to live in this community. While there are some great people that live there most, if not all,...<p>I used to live in this community. While there are some great people that live there most, if not all, believe the same way that Mr. McCance does. Could we educate these people about diversity, YES. Can we change their minds, Probably not! My husband is considered a disgrace in his family for his liberal beliefs on diversity and personal expression. I would be willing to join any organized group that could go and talk to the students and teachers about this situation. In my personal view, this needs to be handled and counseled just like a tragic event would be. I am hoping that the community can heal and come together in spite of this negative attention.</p>Rick Smith commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01348889b4ee970c2010-10-28T19:36:23Z2010-10-28T19:37:25ZRick SmithANYTHING short of the removal of such a hateful person should not be tolerated or accepted!<p>ANYTHING short of the removal of such a hateful person should not be tolerated or accepted!</p>wimsy commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0133f56813cb970b2010-10-28T14:30:22Z2010-10-28T14:39:56ZwimsySome of you evidently missed this earlier report: The Arkansas Dept. of Education's statement, via The Advocate: "The Arkansas Department...<p>Some of you evidently missed this earlier report:</p>
<p>The Arkansas Dept. of Education&#39;s statement, via The Advocate:</p>
<p>&quot;The Arkansas Department of Education strongly condemns remarks or attitudes of this kind and are dismayed to see that a school board official would post something of this insensitive nature on a public forum like Facebook. Because Mr. McCance is an elected official, the department has no means of dealing with him directly. However, the department does have staff who investigate matters of bullying in schools and we will monitor and quickly respond to any bullying of students that may occur because of this, as we have with other civil rights issues in the past. The department also has worked with the State’s Office of the Attorney General during the month of October to provide training to counselors across the state regarding cyberbullying, ‘sexting’ and texting, which included a portion on how to watch for and deal with bullying of this kind.&quot;</p>joebloe commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01348887cab7970c2010-10-28T13:28:46Z2010-10-28T13:32:37ZjoebloeThe statements in that letter aren't worth the paper it was printed on. Empty, worthless rhetoric, is all I see...<p>The statements in that letter aren&#39;t worth the paper it was printed on. Empty, worthless rhetoric, is all I see and hear. This small town is getting a big dose of scrutiny from all over this nation. People forget how small the world has gotten since the internet came along and shrunk it for us so we could immediately address this kind of bullshit. He posted those comments for a little notoriety, he fuckin&#39; hit the jackpot. This man has no business being so close to children as to poison their minds with his hateful, hurtful banter. Words can kill, and so can the thoughts behind them.</p>Dave Jones commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488879581970c2010-10-28T12:51:39Z2010-10-28T13:01:25ZDave JonesSurely you folks will see that comments such as these made by an elected official, an official who is elected...<p>Surely you folks will see that comments such as these made by an elected official, an official who is elected to represent all of the children of your district, are inappropriate, bigoted, and ignorant. This man should be recalled by the citizens of your district and removed from office. No excuse, no &quot;slip of the tongue&quot;, no &quot;mis-speak&quot; can explain away hurtful, bigotted speech such as this. This is what is meant by &quot;Sharia Law&quot; when fearful, ignorant people curse muslims...except this is supposedly a &quot;Christian&quot; man. I don&#39;t think Christ spent a lot of time telling gay people to go hang themselves, did he?</p>
<p>Recall election...the sincerest form of apology.</p>Martin Murray commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01348886ef1b970c2010-10-28T10:21:43Z2010-10-28T10:33:58ZMartin Murray Surely his illiteracy is reason enough to remove him from the school board. Otherwise they should be ashamed of THEREselves<p>Surely his illiteracy is reason enough to remove him from the school board. Otherwise they should be ashamed of THEREselves</p>wirrrn commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488868aca970c2010-10-28T08:52:38Z2010-10-28T09:02:28Zwirrrnhttp://axisofweevil.comNot good enough. Sack him!<p><br />
Not good enough. Sack him!</p>Demand Equality commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488858727970c2010-10-28T04:39:42Z2010-10-28T04:45:41ZDemand EqualityMaybe McCance was reassuring the parents in his school board district that he would continue to represent their shared views.<p>Maybe McCance was reassuring the parents in his school board district that he would continue to represent their shared views.</p>Paul R commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488856a17970c2010-10-28T04:05:21Z2010-10-28T04:14:54ZPaul RActually I find this statement commendable given that it's a rural part of Arkansas. I've obviously got no idea what...<p>Actually I find this statement commendable given that it&#39;s a rural part of Arkansas. I&#39;ve obviously got no idea what the outcome will be, but this idiot hateful jackass will likely face enormous pressure to resign if they can&#39;t legally remove him. Educators cannot be allowed to act this way--even as &quot;private citizens&quot; (which no elected official really is)--especially given all the recent suicides.</p>BobN commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488851c5a970c2010-10-28T02:53:52Z2010-10-28T03:03:51ZBobN"The district strives to foster an environment that discourages all forms of bullying and an environment that encourages a safe...<p>&quot;The district strives to foster an environment that discourages all forms of bullying and an environment that encourages a safe and productive educational climate of all of our students.&quot;</p>
<p>Sure, sure you do. Any chance you&#39;ve got personnel policies banning discrimination based on sexual orientation? Oh, that&#39;s interesting. Your &quot;policies&quot; page is &quot;under construction&quot;. Wonder when that happened.<br />
</p>pete commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488850c68970c2010-10-28T02:40:17Z2010-10-28T02:43:40ZpeteNot bloody good enough!<p>Not bloody good enough!</p>Seoul Brother commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01348884d80a970c2010-10-28T01:56:30Z2010-10-28T02:02:03ZSeoul Brotherhttp://thingunderthebed.blogspot.comAdamblast, Expressing anger and frustration is one thing, but we have to remember that when engaging a bully, usually the...<p>Adamblast, Expressing anger and frustration is one thing, but we have to remember that when engaging a bully, usually the best and painless course of action is to rain down on them swiftly and without mercy. Humiliate them. Take away their livelihood. You can express anger and frustration and even go so far as to investigate with whom this jackass does business and warn those people that because they do business with a bigoted thug bully, their businesses will suffer as a direct result. </p>
<p>You can also take the higher road and impress on anyone who will listen that this man is a simpleton who only brings shame and derision upon the people he is elected to represent.</p>
<p>But if all we&#39;re doing as concerned LGBT AND straight people is to scream &quot;fuck fuckety fuck fuck fuck,&quot; and &quot;Screw Clint McCance,&quot; what are we accomplishing?</p>Scott McCoy commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01348884c8f5970c2010-10-28T01:42:26Z2010-10-28T01:51:44ZScott McCoyAnd shouldn't the statement also have said that LGBT kids should not kill themselves!?!<p>And shouldn&#39;t the statement also have said that LGBT kids should not kill themselves!?!</p>adamblast commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01348884c651970c2010-10-28T01:39:59Z2010-10-28T01:51:44ZadamblastWhether removal easy or difficult, it is appropriate for us to express our anger and call for his ouster.<p>Whether removal easy or difficult, it is appropriate for us to express our anger and call for his ouster. </p>Tim commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0133f564622f970b2010-10-28T00:13:13Z2010-10-28T00:13:31ZTimJCT, I will be much more polite to you than you were to me. I am a two-term school board...<p>JCT, I will be much more polite to you than you were to me. I am a two-term school board member and school board president in an urban district. In our city, a school board member can be removed for due reason by other members of the board. The board can also minimally censure a member for behavior unbecoming a member of the board. Perhaps things are different in Arkansas, but as someone who won his last election by a four to one margin, I am not as clueless as you might believe.</p>mikenola commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0133f56451fb970b2010-10-27T23:59:07Z2010-10-28T00:03:13Zmikenolaschool board names back up at http://midland.k12.ar.us/index.php?pageID=21053_3& Wood, Bryson McCance, Clint Blevins, Connie Frazier, Deborah Bowren, Brandon Beel, Robert Rhew,...<p>school board names back up at<br />
http://midland.k12.ar.us/index.php?pageID=21053_3&amp;<br />
Wood, Bryson<br />
McCance, Clint<br />
Blevins, Connie <br />
Frazier, Deborah <br />
Bowren, Brandon <br />
Beel, Robert <br />
Rhew, Bob </p>Zo commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488844827970c2010-10-27T23:48:49Z2010-10-27T23:52:55ZZovery well said Seoul Bro<p>very well said Seoul Bro</p>Seoul Brother commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0133f56435f5970b2010-10-27T23:30:08Z2010-10-27T23:32:37ZSeoul Brotherhttp://thingunderthebed.blogspot.comI have to agree with JCT. This is a highly charged issue, but in order to see it and any...<p>I have to agree with JCT. This is a highly charged issue, but in order to see it and any viable action against Clint McCance, we need to understand the infrastructure and how to fight within their system. It does us no good to get angry and say he&#39;s an ignorant thug who should be fired NO MATTER WHAT. Of course he&#39;s an ignorant thug. Of course he should be brought to task for his statements, and if what he said is punishable as a violation of his oath of office, then he should be punished so goddamn hard, his ancestors feel it. </p>
<p>Due process should mean something even to bigoted thugs, or we become weaker and more reactionary.</p>jct commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488842782970c2010-10-27T23:13:30Z2010-10-27T23:22:22ZjctEdd- I understand your point but how about people arm themselves with facts before going off and showing how ignorant...<p>Edd- I understand your point but how about people arm themselves with facts before going off and showing how ignorant they are? This issue has been going on for over 24 hours and on multiple blogs I&#39;ve seen people say the same bullshit about how the school should fire him. Stating these kind of things only demonstrated how ignorant the person is saying them. If people want to have an impact on politics (and school boards are political) then they need to educate themselves before opening their mouths. Otherwise it&#39;s no more informed than the tea party and their obamacare nonsense.</p>bobbyjoe commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0133f5641376970b2010-10-27T22:54:06Z2010-10-27T23:01:50ZbobbyjoeIt certainly sounds like they're looking for a way to legally remove this jerk, though. Note the significance of where...<p>It certainly sounds like they&#39;re looking for a way to legally remove this jerk, though. Note the significance of where the Arkansas School Boards Association is going with this:</p>
<p>&quot;When school board members take the oath of office, they swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas. ASBA expects board members to adhere to state and federal laws, and bullying would certainly fall under those statutes.&quot;</p>
<p>http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2010/10/27/protection-for-gay-kids</p>
<p>In other words, they&#39;re looking for a way to establish that McCance violated his oath of office and possibly the state constitution. I suspect that if they really want to have someone removed, they&#39;ll find a way to do it.</p>Edd commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488841220970c2010-10-27T22:52:44Z2010-10-27T23:01:50ZEddJCT, How about enlightening instead of ridiculing?<p>JCT,<br />
How about enlightening instead of ridiculing? </p>jct commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef013488840b1c970c2010-10-27T22:45:43Z2010-10-27T22:51:27ZjctHow dense are you two first commentators? The school district does not have the ability to to excuse the school...<p>How dense are you two first commentators? The school district does not have the ability to to excuse the school board trustees. In fact it&#39;s the opposite. The school board trustees can call for the dismissal of the superintendent, the principal, teachers, staff etc. Part of the reason the school hasn&#39;t said anything yet is that they are not in the position to say anything without fear of losing their jobs. This jackass is an elected official who is the equivalent of one of the bosses of all employees of the school district. It would really help if some of you bothered to learn the basics of governance in this country.</p>Alan E. commented on 'Arkansas' Midland School District Distances Itself from Homophobic School Board Member Clint McCance'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0134888408ee970c2010-10-27T22:43:49Z2010-10-27T22:51:27ZAlan E."Mr. McCance was not acting as an agent of the school board, but as a private citizen when this comment...<p>&quot;Mr. McCance was not acting as an agent of the school board, but as a private citizen when this comment was posted.&quot;</p>
<p>It&#39;s very difficult to separate those two when you are an elected official, especially when the comment was regarding the welfare of children!</p>